Sleep Statistics Reveal The (Shocking) Cost To Health And Society

The facts don’t lie, we’re not getting enough sleep. Whether you suffer from a chronic case of insomnia or you’re just feeling a little sleep deprived, take a look at how everyone else is doing, and the impact a lack of sleep can have on your health.

Key Findings and Statistics about Sleep

35% of Americans don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep each night.

Americans currently get on average 6.8 hours of sleep each night.

In 1910 the average person slept 9 hours a night.

Roughly 20% of Americans have a sleep disorder.

Since 1985 the percentage of adults getting less than six hours sleep each night has increased by 31%.

Sleep Disorders

From sleep apnea to sleep paralysis, there are a number of shocking statistics that reveal the increase in sleep disorders:

According to a study by the US Department of Health and Human Services, roughly 20% of Americans have a sleep disorder.

It’s estimated that 27% of adults in America have trouble sleeping most nights, according to a new Consumer Report, which surveyed 4,023 adults.

With 68%, roughly 164 million Americans, struggling with sleep at least once a week. Reasons for the difficultly in falling asleep included the fact that Americans now work longer hours, as well as the use of electronic devices before bed.

There are a number of different treatments available, with sleep labs growing in popularity across the country.

The labs, such as the West Region Sleep Center in Ohio, are run by sleep medicine doctors who monitor the heart rate, breathing and eye movements of patients whilst they sleep for diagnosis and sleep optimization.

In the mid 1970s there were a handful of sleep labs providing treatment across the USA, today there are nearly 3,000.

Since 1985 the percentage of adults getting less than six hours sleep each night has increased by 31%.

In fact in a recent survey of 444,306 Americans in all 50 states, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35% said they got less than 7 hours of sleep a night. The CDC recommends that adults aged 18 to 60 get at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

Age Groups

Children need more sleep than adults to function effectively, however the statistics show that they’re not necessarily getting it. Experts recommend the following amounts of sleep per age group:

Infants 4-12 months: 12 – 16 hours (including naps)

Child 1 – 2 years: 11 – 14 hours (including naps)

Child 3 – 5 years: 10 – 13 hours (including naps)

Child 6 – 12 years: 9 – 12 hours

Teenager: 8 – 10 hours

Adult: 7 – 9 hours

However despite the sleep needs of each generation being clear, every age group appears to be reporting a lack of sleep, with teenage sleep deprivation being particularly problematic.

A recent study conducted by the CDC in to short sleep duration, which is classed as less than 7 hours in a 24 hour period, found that the 25-54 year old age group appeared to be getting the least sleep:

32% of 18-24 age group reported short sleep duration

38% of 25-34 age group reported short sleep duration

38% of 35-44 age group reported short sleep duration

39% of 45-54 age group reported short sleep duration

36% of 55-64 age group reported short sleep duration

26% of 65+ age group reported short sleep duration

97% of teenagers get less than the recommended amount of sleep each night.

A study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence found that though teenagers need around nine hours of sleep each night, the average teenager was getting just 6.5 hours every weekday night.

The percentage of babies sharing a sleep surface with an adult rose from 6.5% in 1993 to 13.5% in 2010.

Research suggests that parents co-sleeping with their child is increasing, with a number of worrying co-sleeping statistics coming to light.

The National Infant Sleep Position Study published in the US National Library of Medicine found that though medical advice did not recommend co-sleeping, the occurrence had increased among the groups tested.

More than 50% of parents surveyed said they had not received any advice about the safety of co-sleeping from their doctor.

“Too many babies in this country are lost to sleep-related deaths that might be prevented. We must do more to ensure every family knows the AAP recommendations – babies should sleep on their backs, without any toys or soft bedding, and in their own crib. Parents are encouraged to share a room with the baby, but not the same bed.”

Sleep Medication

With people struggling more and more with sleep you’ll be unsurprised to hear that the use of sleep medication is rising.

The study published by the CDC, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, found that the prescribing of sleeping pills was rising significantly. In fact since 1993, the prescribing of sleep medication has risen by over 230% from 2.7 million!

4% of adults aged over 20 have used prescription sleep aids in the past month.

The data compiled from the aforementioned National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that there were also patterns amongst gender and age groups, with more people over 80 using sleep aids, particularly women.

According to a major longitudinal study published by the BMJ, those who had regularly taken sleeping pills were 35% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.

The study revealed that sleeping pills could have potentially caused 320,000 to 507,000 extra deaths in the US in 2010.

Further research is needed in to the impact of sleep medication, however the controversial study suggested the use of the sleeping aids could be as detrimental to your health as smoking.

Worldwide Sleep

The US might not be getting enough sleep, but it seems the rest of the world is a little sleep deprived too. In fact America doesn’t even rate in the top 5 for lack of sleep across the globe.

According to a recent study published in Science Advance, collated from smartphone data through an app called Entrain, the countries with the worst sleepers include:

Average adult in Japan = 5 hours and 59 minutes

Average adult in Saudi Arabia = 6 hours and 8 minutes

Average adult in Sweden = 6 hours and 10 minutes

Average adult in India = 6 hours and 20 minutes

Average adult in The Philippines = 6 hours and 22 minutes

The data also revealed the most well-rested countries:

Average adult in New Zealand = 7 hours and 30 minutes

Average adult in The Netherlands = 7 hours and 28 minutes

Average adult in Finland = 7 hours and 26 minutes

Average adult in Great Britain = 7 hours and 24 minutes

Average adult in Ireland = 7 hours and 22 minutes

Want more sleep? Move to South Dakota!

The amount of sleep the average American gets varies depending on the state in which you live.

A huge state-focussed study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was carried out that found that the people of Hawaii were the most sleep deprived, with South Dakota the most rested state.

Check Also

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

About The Good Body

In-depth yet uncomplicated research in the form of reviews, case studies and product analyses. By reviewing products and techniques in an easy-to-digest format, The Good Body simplifies things and helps consumers to make informed decisions... continue reading